Last month the modern, highly sustainable community hub which forms part of The Meadows and Buchan Street development was completed along with the first phase of new social rent apartments to address local housing needs.
The impressive council-run centre replaces two existing community centres that were ageing and had become inadequate. Located adjacent to open space and a public plaza, the new centre includes a family centre, a youth wing, a café, a double-height hall, a pre-school, and bookable meeting rooms.
The team worked closely with the local community, including The Meadows Children and Family Service to ensure the needs of the local Kings Hedges and Arbury community were at the forefront of the project and that specific service users’ needs were understood and factored into the design.
The new community building has been the result of an enormous amount of work from all sides, initially starting with a review of community centres across the city to assess if they were meeting the needs of the city as it grows and changes. Once agreed that the much loved Buchan Street Neighbourhood Centre and the old Meadows Centre would be replaced with a brand new sustainable building, the team worked tirelessly with everyone involved to deliver this first-class facility, which is wonderful to see fully open. The real success will be the impact it has on improving people’s lives, from helping older people stay fitter for longer or providing new parents with support through the early years of their children’s lives, through to engaging with young people to provide a wealth of activities in the form of community art, theatre, and sport.Cllr Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member
The centre also has Changing Places facilities which help people with profound and multiple learning disabilities or physical disabilities use the toilets safely and comfortably.
At Ironworks, Mill Road, the BREEAM Excellent community centre has also recently been completed on the site of the former council depot. The centre offers a spacious hall which can be subdivided into two smaller halls, a meeting room, disabled parking and drop-off spaces and a dedicated outdoor space linked to the main hall.
Our partnership has proved to be a great vehicle for delivering both housing and new community facilities which play a key role in fostering sustainable neighbourhoods. Our collaborative approach has been evident throughout, working closely with the local community at each development to ensure that the new facilities we create meet as many needs as possible and are fit for the future. Both community centres have also been designed to be BREEAM Excellent, meaning they are in the top 10% of non-domestic buildings in the UK in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability.Tom Hill, Managing Director at The Hill Group
Run by Romsey Mill and PACT, a varied programme of weekly groups will take place at the Mill Road Community Centre, including toddler group, local girl guiding, martial arts for both children and adults, teen yoga, and after-school activities for children. It can also be used for one-off activities including children’s parties, family celebrations, and events such as Mill Road Winter Fair.